Meal Plans

Chili and Cornbread

Picture of Chili

Chili

Ingredients:

  • 1 lb dry pinto beans
  • 4 1/2 c water
  • 1 T vegetable oil
  • 1 green pepper
  • 1 lb ground beef or turkey
  • 1 14 oz can diced tomatoes
  • 2 T chili powder
  • 1/2 t salt
  • 1/4 t pepper
  • 1/2 t garlic
  • 1 t oregano
  • 1 t cumin
  • 1 t cocoa
  • 1/4 t cayenne pepper
  • tortilla chips (garnish)
  • shredded cheese (garnish)
  • sour cream (garnish)

In a large skillet saute onion and green pepper in oil. Brown hamburger or ground turkey. Add it to the slow cooker when it's done. Rinse the beans. Add beans and all other ingredients to the slow cooker. Cook for 8 hours on low or 4 hours on high. Top with garnishes of your choice.

Cornbread

Ingredients:

  • 1 box cornbread mix

Prepare cornbread according to package directions. Keep in mind that you often need milk, eggs, and oil the make the mix. Usually bakes in under 30 minutes. Can use a 8" x 8" casserole or muffin tins lined with cupcake papers.

If you're short on time just use bread or a bag of rolls as your side.

Another option could be to serve the chili over potatoes. Poke holes in them with a fork and microwave for about 7 minutes. You could also cook them in the Instant Pot pretty quickly.

Southwest Scrambled Eggs

Picture of Scrambled Eggs

Southwest Scrambled Eggs

Ingredients:

  • 1 medium onion
  • 1/2 green pepper
  • 2-3 slices Deli meat
  • 2-3 eggs
  • titch of Salsa
  • titch of shredded cheese
  • pinch pepper
  • pinch salt
  • tortillas (optional)

Saute diced onion and green pepper. Add diced deli meat. Add eggs - just scramble them in the skillet as you cook them. Add cheese when almost done cooking. It will help them to not stick to the pan. Served topped with salsa. Wrap it in a tortilla for a breakfast burrito if you want.

Possible Sides

I don't think this really needs a side, but here are a few ideas:

  • precooked bacon
  • precooked sausage
  • bagel and cream cheese
  • sliced fruit

Spaghetti, Garlic Bread, and Salad

Picture of Spaghetti

Spaghetti

Ingredients:

  • 1/2 pkg spaghetti noodles
  • 1 jar or can spaghetti sauce
  • dash salt
  • dash pepper
  • dash Italian seasoning (optional)
  • 12-24 frozen meatballs (optional)
  • 1 small zucchini (optional)
  • dash grated parmesan cheese (optional)
  • sprinkle grated mozzarella (optional)

cook spaghetti noodles according to package directions. Heat sauce in microwave or in stovetop skillet. Pour sauce over noodles. Done.

Beast Mode: Saute zucchini in large sauce pan. Add spaghetti sauce and meatballs. Simmer on low heat until meatballs are warm in center. Serve over spaghetti noodles. Top with shredded parmesan and mozzarella. Season with Italian seasoning to taste.

Garlic Bread and Salad

Ingredients:

  • premade Garlic Bread
  • bagged Salad
  • boiled eggs (optional)
  • croutons (optional)
  • your favorite veggies (optional)
  • sliced ham or lunch meat (optional)

Buy garlic bread, bake it according to directions - about 5 minutes. Done.

Buy bagged salad, open the bag, apply dressing of your choice. Done.

Beast Mode: Improve salad by adding croutons, boiled eggs, more vegetables, sliced ham, or whatever you like on your salad.

Stroganoff and vegetables

Picture of Stroganoff

Stroganoff

Ingredients:

  • 1 T vegetable or canola oil
  • 1 medium onion
  • 1 lb ground turkey or hamburger
  • 1 can cream of mushroom soup
  • 1/3 c cater
  • 1/2 package egg noodles
  • 2 T sour cream (optional)
  • 1 can or 1/2 pkg Fresh mushrooms (optional)
  • dash black pepper

Heat oil in a large skillet. Dice onions and saute in oil until they turn translucent. Add hamburger or ground turkey and continue cooking until brown. You might want to add a bit of extra water to keep it from burning. When meat is done add cream of mushroom soup and water until desired viscosity is attained. While meat is cooking get water boiling in a large sauce pan. Cook noodles according to package directions. Drain. Put meat sauce over noodles, sprinkle with pepper and dig in!

If you don't have any noodles handy the sauce is also really good over bread or rice. Use a ratio of 1:1.5 white rice to water and cook it in the instat pot using the rice setting

Beast Mode: Step it up a notch by sauteing mushrooms with the onions. Also add some sour cream along with the cream of mushroom soup. You could also substitue cubed stew meat in place of ground meat. Saute it or use the Instant Pot to cook it.

Vegetables

Ingredients (choose one):

  • 1 bag frozen vegetables
  • 1 can vegetables

Buy frozen or canned vegetables of your choice. Microwave them. Done.

Alternatives: Buy bagged salad, open the bag, apply dressing of your choice. Done.